OVER AND UNDER THE WAVES

OVER AND UNDER THE WAVES by Kate Messner. Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal.

Heading out to the beach soon or do you have a child who loves ocean animals? Kate Messner's Over and Under the Waves is a perfect look into this amazing world!

Looking through the eyes of a child as she kayaks with her parents, Messner easily captures the joy and wonder of discovery around this sweet, little girl. The creatures featured are amazing and Messner is not an author that leaves us wondering about how they live. There is lots of extra information about each one in the end notes. Before long, though, it's time to leave this watery world and return to normal life. The reality of spaghetti and chocolate chip cookies before snuggling down into bed to dream is just about as perfect a touch of complete satisfaction as possible!

Illustrator Christopher Silas Neal brings the book to life for us! I would tell you on this hot, Ohio day the temperature dropped by 10 degrees when staring at these ocean pictures. The blues and greens are so cool and inviting. The splashes of red remind us that the day is still hot outside of this inviting oasis.

ALONGSIDE ACTIVITIES- Visit the ocean, or visit an aquarium if possible.This book is set in Monterey Bay, California. Find it on the map. Research animals that live in the bay. Need a chapter book to go along with this? Check out Odder by Katherine Applegate. (You can read the review if you put it in the search bar.) Not possible to do any of those things? How about good old fashioned cooling down in water? Run through a sprinkler, go swimming, spray each other with water guns. Have fun!